Automatic gun.



No. 718,062. PATENTED JAN. 6, 1903.

. J. WEED.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1901.

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N0 MODEL.

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WITNESSES: Z3 IIIVVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY.

- PATENTED JAN. 6, 1903.

J. WEED.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1901.

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James #4990.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WEED, OF EAWLINS, w MIN ASSIGNOR F TWO-THIRDS T0 J0IIN LEWIS AND AARON A. BRpWN, 0F RAWLINS, WYOMING.

AUTOMATIC GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,062, dated January 6, 1908. Application filed September s. 1901. Serial lilo. 74,109. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it knownthat I, JAMES WEED, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Rawlins, in the county of Carbon and State of \Vyoming, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Guns; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic guns, my object being to provide an apparatus adapted to frighten wild animals-as coyotes, wolves, and-mountainlions-and thereby protect domestic animals. It is constructed to be located in any convenient place about a corral or other'place where the animals to be protected-as sheep, for instance-are kept. The construction is also such that when in use it automatically explodes a cartridgeat predetermined intervals through the instrumentality of clock mechanism.

The invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodimentthereof a In thedrawifigs, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myijiiproved automatic gun, the outer casing or housing beingpartly broken away. Fig. 2 is aiertical longitudinal section taken on the linear m, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section takenghn the line y 11 Fig. 2. Fig.

4 is a similar section taken on the line 2 z, Fig. 2. I

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designatea block forming a part of the lower framework of the device. To this block, which, as shown in'the drawings, is square in horizontal section, is made fast a disk 6, which surrounds the block. This disk is connected with a ring 7, located at the topof the device, by a number of open-ended tubes 8, whose upper extremities register with openings formed in the ring and whose lower extremities surround openings in which are movably located small devices 9, which pass through the openings in the disk 6 and rest on the cartridges 10 to be exploded.- These cartridges are mounted in a disk 12, provided with openings therefor suitably arranged. These openings are just large enough to allow the body part of the cartridges to slip easily therethrough until the rim is reached which supports the cartridge in place. The disk 12 is slidable on the block '5, whereby it is allowed to pass down far enough below the disk 6 to permit' the insertion of the cartridges and the removal of the shells. When in position for use, the disk 12 is held in place by a pin 13, passed through an opening in the" block 5 below the disk 12. This pin is removable to permit the disk 12 to slide on. the block for the purpose stated.

There may be any desired number of tubes 8, and they are arranged in a circle struck from the center of the block 5. Within each tube is located a weight 14, whose upper extremity is provided with a circumferential groove adapted to be engaged by a trigger or a dog 15, pivotally mounted on the ring 7.-

-To the top of the block 5 is attached a central rod or column 16, to whose upper extremity is secured a support 17, upon which rests a clock mechanism 18, provided with a hand 19, which as it moves around the face of'the dial is adapted to successively engage the triggers 15 and actuate them sufliciently to release the weights 14, which then drop into the tubes to engagement with the devices 9 and explode the cartridges at predetermined in-' tervals. As shown in the drawings, twelve tubes are arranged around the circle at equal intervals. Hence if the weight is set or supported in operative relation by a trigger a cartridge would be exploded every hour for twelve successive hours. If it is desired to explode them every half or quarter hour,

.more tubes, weights, and triggers must of course be employed. Each weight is =provided with a projection 14, which passes through a vertical slot 8*, formed in the tube. This projection is for convenience in raising the weight in .the tube after it has fallen to engagement with the device 9.

The ring 7 is provided with two lugs or ears 7, which project outwardly therefrom on opposide sides and are provided with openings through which pass the vertical arms 20 of an inverted-U-shaped rod 20. The lower extremities of these arms 20 pass through openings formed in projections 21, secured to the disk 6. These arms are secured in place below the projections 21 by nuts screwed upon the threaded lower extremities of the rods. A two-part casing or housing, adapted to inclose the mechanism at the top and sides to prevent the entrance of rain, snow, and dirt, is hinged to one member 20" of the rod, whereby the housing may be opened and closed at will. One part of this housing is provided with metal straps 22, adapted to pass outside of the other rod member 20,'and engaged staples attached to the other housing part. The hasp of a padlock may be passed through each of the staples outside of the strap to lock the housing in a closed position, whereby unauthorized persons are prevented from tampering with the mechanism.

The lower extremity of the block 5 is provided with a plate 23, adapted to form the support for the disk 12 when the latter is in the lowered position.

In order to use the device, it is onlymecessary to open the housing, wind up and set the clock, raise the weights, set the triggers, and insert the cartridges. The housing is then closed and locked and the device hung in any advantageous position with reference to the location of the domestic animals to be protected. Then as the hand 19 of the clock moves around the dial it will actuate the triggers and release the weights in succession, and the cartridges will be exploded at regular predetermined intervals, as aforesaid.

It will be observed from the foregoing description and from inspection of the drawings that the tubes 8 form guides only for the weights. Hence instead of. tubes guides of any suitable construction may be employed, the only requirement being that the weights are properly directed as they fall to explode the cartridges.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. In an automatic gun, the combination with a suitable frame, a number of vertical tubes mounted on the frame, cartridges supported at the lower extremities of the tubes, weights slid-able in the tubes, triggers for supporting the weights in the tubes above the cartridges, and means for automatically and successively actuating the triggers to release the weights, whereby the latter are allowed to fall in the tubes and explode the cartridges at predetermined intervals.

2. In an automatic gun, the combination with a suitable frame, of a number of openended tubes mounted thereinand arranged in a circle, a cartridge-holder located at the lower extremities of the tubes and so arranged that the cartridges when in position are in line with the tubes, means for supporting the cartridge-holder located below the tubes and constructed to support the cartridges in alinement with the tubes, weights slidable in the tubes which are provided with slots, the weights havingprojectionsextendingthrough the slots for convenience in raising the weights, triggers mounted on the frame and arranged to support the weights in the tubes above the cartridges, a clock mechanism mounted in proximity to the triggers, and a hand actuated by said mechanism to operate the triggers and release the weights, the arrangement being such that as the weights fall in the tubes, the cartridges are exploded.

4. In an automatic gun, the combination with asuitable frame, of a lower apertured disk, an upper ring having openings in line with the openings in the disk, open-ended tubes connecting the disk and the ring, and in alinement with the openings therein, movable cartridge-exploding devices located in the disk-openings, a cartridge-holder mounted on the frame below the disk and provided with cartridge-apertures in line with the openings in the disk, whereby the cartridges are engaged by the exploding devices carried by the disk, means for supporting the weights in the tubes, above the exploding devices, and means for automatically and successively releasing the weights for the purpose set forth. 5. In an automatic gun, the combination of a block, a disk made fast thereto and provided with openings, cartridge-exploding devices mounted in said openings, a cartridgeholder adjustable on the block, and provided with cartridge-openings in line with the exploding-devices, tubes secured at their lower extremities to the disk, and in alinement with the exploding devices, a ring to which the upper extremities of the tubes are attached, said ring being provided with openings registering with the openings in the tubes, weights slidable in the tubes, triggers mounted on the-ring and arranged to support the weights above the exploding devices, and means for automatically actuating the triggers to release the weights.

6. In an automaticgun, the combination with a suitable frame, of a number of vertical guides mounted on the frame, a cartridgeholder mounted on the frame at the lower extremities of the guides, weights supported above the cartridge-holder and slidable in the guides, triggers mounted on the frame and normally supporting the weights, and means for automatically and successively actuating the triggers to release the weights whereby they are allowed to drop and explode the cartridges at predetermined intervals.

7. In an automatic gun, the combination with a suitable frame, of a cartridge-holder mounted on the frame, cartridge-exploding devices mounted above theholder and in line with the cartridges therein, weights supported above the exploding devices, weightguides' between the exploding devices and the weights and in which the latter are slidable, triggers pivotally mounted on the frame and arranged to support the weights above the cartridge-exploding devices, and means for automatically and successively actuating the triggers to release the weights.

8. In an automatic gun, the combination with a cartridge-holder, Weights supported above the said holder, a number of vertical guides in which the weights are slidable, said arm carried thereby for successively releasing said hammers.

11. In a device of the class specified, an annular series of cartridge-supports, discharging-hammers, means for guiding the hammers, hammer-supports, a clockwork mechanism,'and a revoluble arm carried by the clockwork mechanism and adapted to successively engage and move the hammer-supports to releasing positions.

In testimony whereof I afifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, JAMES WEED. Witnesses: l

M. HEALY,

CHAS. COBB. 

